Consumer noticeability of performance differences in battery powered devices

Abstract

In U.S. households alone, approximately 1.1 billion devices are powered by disposable, primary (single-use) batteries. About one-third of these devices are driven by constant resistance (cR) electronics whereby the performance of these devices is dependent on the load voltage provided by the battery, unlike constant current (cI) and constant power (cP) devices where device performance is regulated electronically to be largely similar throughout the life of the battery and regardless of the load voltage provided by the battery. Performance signals provided by cR devices can include movement (as with motorized toys), vibration (as with toothbrushes and grooming devices), light intensity (as with flashlights), and sound (as with a multitude of devices). In typical cR devices, performance signals will change and decrease as battery load voltage decreases. This exploratory study demonstrated that typical users of cR devices were able to perceive decreasing performance of a variety of cR devices as battery load voltage decreased. Furthermore, data acquired from panelists regarding likelihood of changing batteries due to decreased device performance suggests that consumers were prone to battery changeout at a performance threshold above the electronic/device cutoff in cR devices. Practical applicationsThe results of the present work showed that untrained, naive panelists could determine performance differences in cR devices supplied with varying load voltage and suggests consumers may be willing to sacrifice battery longevity for device performance in devices where the performance varies with the state of battery power supply. These data could provide important guidance to device manufacturers (OEMS; Original Equipment Manufacturers) for design of less variably performing cR devices and to battery manufacturers for design of batteries with higher running voltages.Most importantly, the results of this study suggest that both battery and device manufacturers should focus on balancing between better device performance and longer device-battery service life for cR devices rather than singular focus on device-battery service life. Although placed in the United States, the methodology and results could have implications for both battery and cR device design globally.